Safety hook



Oct. 28, 1958 J. G. GALE SAFETY HOOK Filed Dec. 16, 1954 INVENTOR. James 6. Gale.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Manufacturing Company, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., a

' corporation of Missouri Application December 16, 1954, Serial No. 475,621 I 3 Claims. (Cl. 24-242) This invention relates to an improved safety hook for use with cable tackle in the hoisting of heavy loads.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a safety hook wherein the bight of the hook is closed to prevent. detachment of the load on the hookyto provide such a structure wherein the bight closure is connected to the clevis to which the hoist line is attached and when in bight closing position, said closure is in supporting engagement with the end of the hook to aid in distribu-' tion of the load thereon; to provide such a hook and clevis with a pivoted connection and with resilient means thereon; to provide such a safety hook wherein load or pull on the hook and clevis automatically closes the bight and engages the locking members on the hook and clevis to hold the bight closed during the use of the hook; and to provide a safety hook structure that is economical to manufacture and efficient, easy and positive in operation.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided approved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the safety hook with the parts thereof positioned whereby the bight of the hook is open for attachment of 'a load thereon.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the safety hook looking at the rear of the hook portion.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the safety hook with the parts thereof in load lifting position.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the safety hook in load lifting position.

Fig. 5 is a disassembled perspective view of the safety hook.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a safety hook structure generally consisting of a clevis 2 and a hook member 3 connected to the clevis by a pin 4. The hook member 3 is preferably formed of metal, cast or forged in a single piece, and comprises a curved body portion 5 having a forwardly and upwardly curved bill 6 terminating in an outwardly turned nose 7 at one end thereof. The other end of the curved body portion 5 has an upwardly extending shank portion 8 terminating in an eye or boss portion 9 having a bore 10 adapted to receive the shank 11 of the pin 4 which extends transversely of the hook to pivotally mount same.

The clevis 2 preferably is fabricated or formed of one piece of metal. The clevis comprises spaced parallel arms 12 and 13, the lower ends of said arms being connected by a transverse bar 14, bridging the space therebetween. The upper ends of the arms 12 and 13 are connected by a bail 15 preferably of rounded cross-sections and adapted to be engaged by a cable 16 or other piece of hoisting line or tackle to suspend the safety hook and its load. The arms 12 and 13 preferably have an enlarged portion 17 intermediate their length provided between the arms.

extends through the bores 18 thereof.

i 9 to urge same toward the arm 12.

Patented Oct. 23, 1958 ice with aligned bores 18, adapted to be sleeved on the shank 11 of the pin 4. The spacing between the arms 12 and 13 is greater than the thickness between the opposite faces 18? and 19 of the boss or eye portion 9 of the hook whereby said boss is movable laterally whenpositioned Thedistance between the transverse bar 14 and the bores 18 is such that when the shank of the pin 4 extends through the bores 18 and the bore 10 to pivotally mount the hook member on the clevis with the nose 7 of the hook toward the arms, the transverse bar 14 will engage under the nose 7 of the book when the arms 12 and 13 are in position to close the bight of the hook.

The pin 4 has a head 20 on one end thereof adapted to engage one of the arms 12 and 13 when the shank The other end of the pin extends beyond an opposite arm and has an aperture 21 for receiving a cotter pin 22 to hold the pin in-position in the arms -A resilient member 23 is arranged to engage the boss In the illustrated structure,'the resilient member consists of a spring washer which is bent whereby one portion engages the arm 13 and the other portion engages the face 19 of the boss 9 and urges said boss toward the arm 12 to effect intereneifecting relative lateral or shifting movement of the hookv gagement of locking members on the arm 12 and hook and clevis and interengagement of locking members member.

In the'illustrated structure, the hook member is provided with a recess 24 and the arm 12 provided with a lug 25 positionedfor interengagement of the lug and' recesswhen the bar member 14 engages under the nose 7- 'of the hook member 3. The recess provides a shoulder 26, engagement of which with the lug 25 locks the hook to prevent same from swinging away from the arms 12 and 13 until the clevis and hook member have auxiliary force supplied thereto to effect relative lateral movement to compress the resilient member 23 and move the shoulder. 26 out of engagement with the lug 25, at which time the hook may be swung relative to the clevis to open same.

In operation of the safety hook, and assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, wherein the nose 7 of the hook engages the transverse bar 14, and the lug 25 engages the shoulder 26, to lock the parts whereby the entrance to the hook portion of the hook is closed by the arms 12 and 13. Then in order to actuate the structure to open the hook portion, pressure is applied to the clevis and hook member to effect relative lateral movement whereby the boss 9 is moved toward the arm 13 compressing the resilient member 23 and disengaging the lug 25 from the shoulder 26, then, the parts may be swung to the position shown in Fig. 1. Suitable tackle 27 connected to a load may be applied to the hook portion and the parts of the safety hook rotated to close the opening of the hook. However, when the hook is connected to a load, if lifting force is applied to the hoisting line 16, the respective pulls on the clevis and hook portion will cause the respective members to pivot and automatically move into the position shown in Fig. 3 and the resilient member will then effect engagement of the locking members on the hook and clevis and maintain same in locked condition until force is applied to effect lateral relative movement and release of the locking members.

It is believed obvious that I have provided an economical, eificient safety hook that automatically locks when a load is applied thereto to provide a positive operation to prevent detachment of the load from the hook until released by the operator.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A safety hook comprising, a clevis having spaced arms, a pivot in the clevis extending between the arms,

a, bore therein through which the ..pivot.extends,.totsw.ing-

ably mount the hook on theclevis, a bail on the clevis for connection with hoisting apparatus to suspend the hookand. positioned, relative ,to, the arms twherebp.-oppo-- site pull ,on;-the, ,bail ,and. hookiswingi the anmssto "position ;cl,o si ng, theiopeningeof vthe.l:1oo'k,, saiti hoolcand said clevis cnrnprisingfirstiand secondr memberssrespectiwely; a' lug .onone. of said, members extending "toward-the; other of, said members, a recessnint the rothemof said=membersi terminatingin a shoulder engageabletlby; the .lug when the arms, arein position to closetheopening. of the hook, saidneye portion, having atransverse thicknesst-less than the, spacing between the'tclevis; arms. wherebyl-the hook is 5 said shank portion having a bore therein through which whereby the l iook is movable axially on said pivot, said bail on the clevis,,being for connection with hoisting apparatus to suspend the hook and positionedgeiative to the arms whereby opposite pull on the bail and hook swing the-arms-to a position closing the opening of the movablesaxiallypn said pivot, and. iresilientrmeansnbeq 1 hook, said hook ,shankportion having a recess on one weensaid eyeportion and one,arm.of.,-said clevis. engaging the hook and clevis to urge the hook axially on said pivot anddaterally relative .to -.theaclevis for effectingmngagement of the lug and, shoulder. to=lock the hqolgand clevis against pivotal movement, when the. arms: elose thezi hook opening.

2. Asafety, hook cornprising, a'clevis .havingspaeed arms with a transverse bar at. the lower ends and albail at the upper endsthereof, a pivot, on the:clevis and .ex-

tending between the arms, a hook having ,antoutwardlyf turnednose ,at oneend and a shank portionat theiother, said shankportion having a bore therein-throngh.which the pivot extends to swingablymountnthe hook ons the clevis, said shank portion being ,movable-axiallytontsaid side thereof terminating in the direction of the movement of the hook to closed position and a shoulder, a lug on the clevis arm adjacent the side of the shank portion havingrcthe recess and adapted to engage-the side of theshankportion when the hook is-in open position hook-andclevistto urge the hook axially on said pivot andtlaterally relative to the clevis for effecting engagement of-the lugand shoulder to lock the hook'and clevis against-,pivotalmovement when the hook openingis closednbynthe clevis arrns said hook being axially movpivot andlaterallyrelative to thehclevis, said 'bail-ronrthez ablesto anextent greater than the extent ofthedepth clevis being for connection with hoisting apparatnsnto suspend theghook, and positioned lrelative l to. the arms whereby opposite pull 011'1116 bail andthook swingnthe arms to position closing'the opening of .thehook, aslug ononeof the clevis arms and extending laterallyxthere-i-i fromtoward the hook, a recess .on. the .hookwandsposi-- tioned to receive the lug when the,transversebartistsubstantially inengagement with the hookinose said recess terminating, in a shoulder at-the end thereof toward. the bar; andv resilient-means on the pivot and engagingathe-i shank portion and clevis to urge the shank portion axially onsaid pivot and laterally relative to the-clevis for efiectingengagement of the lug and shoulder to locle the hook and clevis against pivotal movement when the transverse bar ,substantially engages the hook nose.

,3. A safetyhookcomprising, a clevis having .-spaced at said recess.

BeterencesCited in the'file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

